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Sunday, October 5, 2014

Rainbow

Charlie's brother, Leigh Rodenbough, died two weeks ago, on September 21, at the age of 90. A retired attorney, he went full time into his art after years of finding a moment here and there to spend time with a canvas during his law practice. His work was remarkably beautiful, showing his love for nature and his children and grandchildren. Seascapes were dominant for the former Naval officer, who spent World War II on ships. He also loved clouds, farm scenes, wooded areas, trees, rivers and skies. My favorites were the scenes from nature.The evening of funeral visitation, his new work of art was the absolutely beautiful double rainbow visible from the the funeral home in Madison. It was stunning, and viewers were convinced Leigh was once more plying his art, this time with the canvas of the heavens. I was moved to put the experience into a poem: RAINBOW“This is what all art
strives for: the creation of a living permanence.” John
O’Donohue

Rainbow

(for Leigh Rodenbough – 1924-2014)

sea
foam, star, cloud of clear puff

or
dark edges, they caught his eye

and
found homes on canvas

old
barns, woodlands, river scenes

on
the Dan and Mayo, leafy trees,

mountain
views, autumns of clear sky

boats
that sail, ships that cross seas,

each
trusting waves to bear their weight,

small
craft lead the way, sing lake poems shores with children shaping sand into castles as sea water fills
holes